Chief cricket writer for The Age

Picture this: An artist's impression of plans to redevelop the Junction Oval.

This is cricket's vision for a redeveloped Junction Oval, and a solution to the impasse with the AFL over access to the MCG, but for the moment it is stuck on the canvas.

Persistent lobbying of governments, the AFL and the Melbourne Cricket Club so far has failed to produce a funding agreement to turn the $50 million project from an artist's impression to reality.

Cricket Victoria and Cricket Australia this week stepped up the quest for federal funding by visiting the old St Kilda ground with federal Labor MP Michael Danby, detailing their plans for an elite training base, alternative Sheffield Shield venue and national centre for diversity through cricket.

The Blackie-Ironmonger and Kevin Murray stands would be refurbished, the broken picket fences replaced, the dilapidated change rooms repaired. A bright, modern building would become CV's high-performance base, complete with an aquatic rehabilitation centre.

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An adjacent building would house 10 indoor nets, a gym and Cricket Victoria's offices, with outdoor nets running along Lakeside Drive.

Danby, the member for Melbourne Ports, agreed the Junction Oval was in desperate need of an upgrade, and supported the inclusion of a diversity centre to benefit recently arrived migrants, female cricketers, indigenous teams and people with disabilities.

''We are currently considering the project in context of major facility funding,'' Danby said. ''The changing rooms do need to be improved, particularly if it involves local and international teams.''

Cricket has pledged $10 million to the project and has not received a guarantee of state government funding in the May budget.

The AFL, which wants to stage matches at the MCG earlier in March each year, and the MCC have said they are reluctant to contribute to the shortfall.

Cricket Victoria, in turn, has said it will have no option but to keep football off the MCG in March each year if an agreement can't be reached, and described the current Junction Oval facilities as embarrassing.

''Recently the venue has hosted international women's cricket and the England Lions versus Victoria, and the condition of the change rooms and the amenities are embarrassing and not suitable for that standard of cricket,'' said acting chief executive Tim Gledhill.

''This [$10 million from cricket] is a significant investment for the sport and underlines our commitment for the project to take place.

''We're working productively with the AFL and the MCC and government to meet our mutual needs and resolve the scheduling conflict that exists, and there is significant benefit for all these stakeholders to come together.

''If we were unable to come to equitable terms, Cricket Victoria would have no alternative to remain the exclusive tenant until the end of March.''

The original plan was for a $30 million upgrade of the Junction Oval, but that was shelved when the Brumby Labor government was voted out of office.

It is understood some involved in the negotiations have questioned the revised price tag, but the project was costed independently by Major Projects Victoria.